5 Fashion Faux Pas For Nurses to Avoid

This article was republished with permission from SCRUBS Magazine

We all have days where beauty and style take a backseat to other important life issues. Maybe you don’t have time to flatiron (or even brush) your hair or repaint your nails or dab on some concealer–we aren’t here to judge!

Here are some fashion faux pas specific to nurses that probably shouldn’t be crossed:

1. Beware the ankles

As Mom used to say, unless the floods are coming, your pants should end right at the ground. This is a matter of finding sizes that fit your inseam and making sure not to shrink your perfect fit in the wash. Scrubs are made in all lengths (thankfully), so there’s no excuse for too-short ones!

2. Double check that V-neck

Even if it means standing in front of a mirror and leaning forward and sideways, make sure nothing is popping out or looking strange in your V-neck scrubs. This applies to both men and women! Throwing on a cami or T-shirt underneath is a simple fix.

3. Keep it a stain-free zone

For some of our wardrobe, a small stain wouldn’t be a deal breaker for continued wear. But for scrubs? A stain that won’t come out should signal retirement for that specific piece. Patient care requires hygienic and professional attire.

4. Nemo is great for pediatrics…not so much for the ER

There are tons of amazing scrubs options out there for nurses and if you’re lucky enough to wear prints and patterns, you should, of course, have fun with the offerings. But it’s still important to be mindful of what makes sense for your department.

5. Check your overall fit

The most obvious fashion faux pas is scrubs that don’t fit. With the plethora of options out there, there’s no excuse for baggy pants or too-tight tops. You can find any color, length, size and cut you want! The key to scrubs shopping is like anything else in fashion–you find something great that works well for your body shape and activity level, and then buy it in every color!

Hit the comments with your own fashion tips and don’t be afraid to spill the beans on any mistakes you’ve made along the way. That’s how funny stories get made!


This article was republished with permission from SCRUBS Magazine

11 COMMENTS

  1. Keeping your scrubs neat and wrinkles free also says something about y. It says I care about how I look and I am a professional and I care about you.

  2. Agreed!! I work in the ICU and my pants hit right at the top of my shoe. Bc hitting the floor means its touching pee, puke, or blood. Ew! No thanks. Plus I’m
    5’10” too so even the tall pants don’t always fit. I’m not there to look cute

  3. I’ve seen way too many scrub pants torn and shredded and dragging the floor just seeing it disgusts me let alone thinking about what’s growing in them

  4. I agree with OC about scrub pants that touch the floor. Talk about un-hygienic! And nothing looks tackier than to see scrub hems that are ragged and dirty, that people are constantly walking on. Use a needle and thread,ntake to a tailor, or if push comes to shove you can cut and fold to appropriate length and use the iron on fuseable bonding tape found ar any fabric store, to shorten yourself!

  5. And if you still are required to wear white pants, only flesh colored panties will do. Any other color showing through mis really tacky.

  6. My mom never said my pants should go to the floor, talk about unhygienic! To the top of your foot is more appropriate, NOT touching the floor. Speaking of unhygenic, a washed and clean scrub with a stain on it is not. Unless the stain is large and obvious at first glance, so what? Scrubs are too expensive to replace for minor flaws. This is not a beauty contest. Even the heading with ” touch up your nail polish.” Really? Nail polish?

  7. I agree! I’m so tired of seeing people’s thongs/tighty whities or a full door of your lower back. Buy some scrubs the right size please!! I do not want to see you wear an unsnapped scrub top with a skinny tank top and half your breasts sticking out because of a push up bra.
    I don’t care what you wear at home. That stuff is just unprofessional wardrobe malfunction waiting to happen.

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